Scored a 550 - Questions

[kelbro]

I have been using my 550B for quite a while. Just scored a good deal on a 550 (not 550B from what I gather). I want to set one up for large primers and one for small primers.

What are the differences?

Which do I need to address?

I noticed that the toolheads are the same.

I see that the powder measure doesn't have the $27 'failsafe' kit. Do I really need to upgrade it?

Is the primer assembly the same?

It operates smoothly but I was still thinking about dropping it off at Dillon and have them go through it. Good idea?

Thanks. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[Alvarez Kelly]

The 550B added the fail safe mechanism, as you noted, and the low primer alarm. That's it. Older 550s can easily be upgraded. In my opinion, if you are used to loading with the failsafe mechanism, it makes sense to have both presses basically the same. If you are not mechanically challenged, you can do the failsafe upgrade, but if the press is at all questionable, I'd send it to Dillon for an overhaul. It'll be the best $49 you ever spent.

And yes, the primer mechanism is the same.

Enjoy your new press!

Edited September 19, 2011 by Alvarez Kelly

[kelbro]

Thanks. I work about 1 mile from Dillon. I will stop by there this morning and pick up a couple of items. I checked it out a little more yesterday afternoon and it just needed some dust knocked off.

The 550B added the fail safe mechanism, as you noted, and the low primer alarm. That's it. Older 550s can easily be upgraded. In my opinion, if you are used to loading with the failsafe mechanism, it makes sense to have both presses basically the same. If you are not mechanically challenged, you can do the failsafe upgrade, but if the press is at all questionable, I'd send it to Dillon for an overhaul. It'll be the best $49 you ever spent.

And yes, the primer mechanism is the same.

Enjoy your new press!

[g56]

I have an original RL550 (preB) model I bought new in about 1985. I upgraded mine a couple of years after the conversion kits came out, I never had any problem with the original powder measure which used gravity and a small spring for the return, but thought the upgrade was a good idea. The primer warming system isn't necessary, my priming system worked just fine without it, but again I thought it was a good idea. If you have one of the old powder measures Dillon has a conversion kit for them as well, its a fairly simple upgrade, and I feel its a good idea.

Interesting, I typed in the second letter of the alphabet and the board inserted a smiley in its place...a little weird, so I'll try it without the space between the pre and the second letter of the alphabet.

Edited September 19, 2011 by g56

[kelbro]

I have an original RL550 (preB) model I bought new in about 1985. I upgraded mine a couple of years after the conversion kits came out, I never had any problem with the original powder measure which used gravity and a small spring for the return, but thought the upgrade was a good idea. The primer warming system isn't necessary, my priming system worked just fine without it, but again I thought it was a good idea. If you have one of the old powder measures Dillon has a conversion kit for them as well, its a fairly simple upgrade, and I feel its a good idea.

Interesting, I typed in the second letter of the alphabet and the board inserted a smiley in its place...a little weird, so I'll try it without the space between the pre and the second letter of the alphabet.

Thanks. Got the kit today. Didn't work. Need a couple more parts. The original bellcrank screw did not go all the way through the measure (no star nut, no bushing). Need a longer bolt and a bellcrank bushing to make it look like my other measures and be able to use the nylock nut. The current arrangement allows too much slop in the bellcrank which allows the white bellcrank cube to fall out.

I will drop back by Dillon tomorrow and get the correct parts and confirm whether the springs are still required.

[kelbro]

I have an original RL550 (preB) model I bought new in about 1985. I upgraded mine a couple of years after the conversion kits came out, I never had any problem with the original powder measure which used gravity and a small spring for the return, but thought the upgrade was a good idea. The primer warming system isn't necessary, my priming system worked just fine without it, but again I thought it was a good idea. If you have one of the old powder measures Dillon has a conversion kit for them as well, its a fairly simple upgrade, and I feel its a good idea.

Interesting, I typed in the second letter of the alphabet and the board inserted a smiley in its place...a little weird, so I'll try it without the space between the pre and the second letter of the alphabet.

Thanks. Got the kit today. Didn't work. Need a couple more parts. The original bellcrank screw did not go all the way through the measure (no star nut, no bushing). Need a longer bolt and a bellcrank bushing to make it look like my other measures and be able to use the nylock nut. The current arrangement allows too much slop in the bellcrank which allows the white bellcrank cube to fall out.

I will drop back by Dillon tomorrow and get the correct parts and confirm whether the springs are still required.

Update: I violated my own 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' policy and it figures. Dillon tech said my powder measure is one of the 'transition' models and the upgrade will not work on it.

Good news though is that since my powder measure is now 'not working', Dillon's No BS warranty kicks in and I get a new powder measure

Hard to beat customer service like that!

[benos]

Good news though is that since my powder measure is now 'not working', Dillon's No BS warranty kicks in and I get a new powder measure

NICE!

[M Spangler]

i received a 550 in a trade and used it for about a year before i sent it in for the dillon overhaul.

i wish i sent it in earlier, they did an amazing job.

if i didn't know any better i would say they just gave me a new machine.

they set me up with new powder bars, new primer feed bars, and a whole new powder measure. it was around $250 of repairs and parts on the invoice, all credited back down to the 47.95 charge for the overhaul.

amazing company. if anyone is considering an overhaul go for it!

[g56]

I think they have had 3 powder measure designs that I know of, at least I have 3 different ones. The original without the failsafe, which I have upgraded with a conversion kit, a model with only one lever arm and the current model with the two arms on the powder measure.